Maggie!

Ever since the day we brought her home, Maggie has brought so much love in our heart! We have had her for a month now, and she is all that we hoped she would be! She is smart, sweet, funny, and all things puppy :). She loves to lay on the couch, barks when she needs to go potty, and wants to chew everything! Being the clean freak that I am, I have been able to keep her from eating a lot of our things simply by putting things right away when we are done using them. She is growing so fast and is already taking up more space on the couch/bed. She loves people (thank goodness), so she has been to several homes, baseball fields & parks. She loves peanut butter & ice! I have become obsessed with taking pictures of her & posting on instagram. She rides in the car so well. Oh, and she wakes up every day at 6 am! Jearen and I may not have kids yet, but this girl sure is making us more prepared, haha!

1st Year of Home Ownership!

Last July when we moved in, my heart was so full of joy. I remember praying to God every time I would clean our old apartment that he would be pleased with our efforts to be faithful in the little things (apartment) and would bless us with bigger things (a house). We tried taking things into our own hands with getting a house, but it didn't work out. We handed it over to God, let go of control, and let Him do His thing. So as I left the bank the day of closing, I cried happy tears as I'm driving away because I was overwhelmed at how good God was to trust us with a house; His faithfulness to meet our desires.

 Even though we had a few mishaps once we moved in (hello flooding!), everything else has been great! We had amazing friends and family help us move & paint everything, new floors put in downstairs, new sink in the guest bathroom, and tons of changes here and there throughout the year. Things just keep getting better here at our home, and I love living here.

 In this last year, we shared many meals in our shabby chic dining room, bought a new couch to seat more friends, and added a bistro table to our kitchen. I got to decorate our fireplace mantle over and over again, rocked in a rocking chair in our little yard enjoying the peace & had sweet dreams in my bedroom. Jearen & I have experienced our first Earthquake, set up a big Christmas tree & played in the snow in our yard on Christmas day. We shared our goals at New Years over dinner at the table. I utilized every room in the house to shower Jearen with gifts on Valentines. I've prayed big prayers throughout the house. We had the perfect place to put a dog kennel. I had my first sleepover with my friends while Jearen was away, had April & May showers, we have taken many walks with Maggie around the neighborhood. As the summer is underway, we will spend time in the yard playing with Mags, take a dip in the junior sized olympic pool, and decorate more & more thanks to my thrifting habits  :).

To say the very least, we have been BLESSED.  Here is to the next year in our house: May the Lord protect us, provide for us, and give us everything we need. I pray our house is a place where God's presence is evident, people are comfortable & we can relax as soon as we walk in the door. 

(Here are some recent photos of our home!)